Skinner and Purdy return
DROGHEDA United boss Tim Clancy celebrated New Year with another flurry of signings as the arrivals of Richie Purdy, Paul Skinner and Ciaran Kelly increased his squad to 13 players.
Purdy (20) needs no introduction after first joining the Drogs on loan from Shamrock Rovers in 2016 and then featuring 25 times in the Premier Division last season, while Skinner (28) is a familiar face, having signed for Drogheda a decade ago under Paul Doolin and spent two and a half years with the club.
Clancy’s third signing announced late on Monday night, Kelly, is a 19-year-old centre-back who graduated through the St Patrick’s Athletic youth system, and he was a regular in their Under-19 side last season.
Reflecting on the new additions on Tuesday morning, Clancy said: ‘I’m happy enough with the players we’ve signed so far and we’ll add a few more during pre-season to bring the squad up to 16 or 17, and we’ll use a lot of our Under-19s as well.
‘Kelly is a big lad who’s comfortable on the ball and it’s an opportunity for him to get involved in first-team football. When you think of it, Conor Kane took a similar route the previous year and Ciaran is the type of lad we want.
‘Purdy is a good lad who’s comfortable on the ball as well and Skinner gives us experience in the goalkeeping position and we will get another keeper as well.’
Just before Christmas the manager also confirmed the re-signing of left-sided forward Mark Doyle who was promoted from the Under-19s last year and scored his first senior goal against Derry City towards the end of the season.
Clancy’s priority now is to tie down an assistant manager. There was what he described as a ‘bit of a hold-up’ before Christmas when he had someone lined up, only for the arrangement to fall through, but the Trim native said he was expecting to be able to confirm an appointment by the end of the day. That would leave just the goalkeeping coach position still vacant.
Meanwhile, pre-season training with start this Friday with the squad having their fitness assessed, with ‘full-on’ training getting under way next Monday.
Two other friendly matches have also been lined up, following earlier confirmation that Drogheda would host Bohemians on Tuesday January 23rd. Drogheda are set to face Dundalk in the annual Jim Malone Cup fixture at Oriel Park, probably on Saturday 27th, followed by a trip to Derry City the following Friday in what could be the Candystripes’ first game back at their newly-refurbished Brandywell stadium.